Angry Chicken!!!

[Buugette]

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HEY... no picking on the silkies... but.... my silkie Emily will wear her diaper. My Polish Wilamenia WILL NOT and acts like I am trying to kill her. Case solved... Silkies like to be pampered and other chickens just want to go play in the mud!

 

[gryeyes]

House chickens and house ducks generally do not stay in cages in the house like parrots and parakeets; they toddle around all over the place. There are "flight suits" for parrots, which are essentially the same thing as the "diapers" we're discussing.

 

[mamabigbird]

Okay ... sorry to say I'm also ROFLMAO at the idea of diapering a chicken. I do understand the need for poop control, but,
when they do poop in their diaper doesn't it stick all through their butt feathers?
And then don't you have to bathe them? And then you'll have to wash their diapers.
It sounds a lot like taking care of a baby and very little like raising chickens IMO.
But then to each his own I guess.

 

[Heathero617]

I didn't mean to offend anyone...but if i have i'm sorry. It still seems silly to me is all. I've never seen a "flight suit" and have had birds of my own and many friends with birds. None of them were kept caged and had the run of the house. Everyone, myself included just went behind them and cleaned up. Hardwood floors, tile and lenolium certainly make this task easier. But all in all, again, I got a good laugh out of it.

I think i'll just keep on keepin my chickens outside, while i love them and i've realized i get attatched to them, in my mind, they are outside barnyard animals. To each their own, and laugh with those who laugh at your way of doing things as they don't find it offensive, just humorous.

 

[krissteff]

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I am wondering about this as well. They poop a lot. How does it not just get all over them or squish out of the diaper? Don't they stink?
Please, help me understand!! My imagination only takes me so far.

 

[galanie]

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Do you know how relatively inoffensive a parrot poo is compared to a chicken drop? WHEW what a difference!! In size and smell both!

 

[Buugette]

Here's Emily in her diaper...

And no, it doesn't usually stick to her feathers... when I pull the pouch up over her vent, I do make a conscious effort to move her feathers off to the sides... somewhat out of the way. I line the diaper with a paper towel... and when it is soiled, I remove it and put in another. No muss... no fuss...

Oh, and Emily tends to hold it... before I take the diaper off, I will either take her outside or put her on a newspaper... and she will typically poop right away... and her diaper will be clean. She will go 3 or 4 hours with a clean diaper. I do make a conscious effort to take her out regularly so she can potty... but if there is gonna be an accident in the house, it will be in her diaper.

Diana

 

[galanie]

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OMG shes adorable! My white crested black polish about this same age had the same reaction. So did my cockatiel (not the same diaper

). I'm guessing you just have to make them wear it for a long time before they finally accept it. I had mine to the point she would ALMOST sometimes act normal with it on. She was an only chicken her age and lonely so she stayed with me most of the time and it was easier to just let her tag along after me like a baby duckling than put her in a cage all day and listen to her scream for company.

Happily she has a new home with others to play with now. Or something. I'm not gonna lie, she was driving me nuts. I miss her though.

PS - make sure the front is tight enough that there is NO WAY they can get their toes caught in it when scooting backwards. Mine ripped a toenail that way and it bled a bit - plus also taught her that she can get it off if she works at it long enough. Once I safety pinned it a bit tighter, we finally started seeing progress.

 

[drumstick diva]

Maybe if you put the diaper on during the night while she is roosting she wouldn't react so badly. I don't think diapering is silly - diapering a baby is no different. They get awfully messy wearing one but, I still wouldn't want them bare bottomed and dropping bombs all over the furniture and inhabitants.

I do agree distractions could help - before she can give you the stink eye - bring out mealworms for the group or some favorite treat of hers. She will be more upset about sharing with others or losing her treat to another hen - forgetting about the diaper for awhile.

Above all don't allow her near a mirror and under no circumstances tell her she has a huge fluffy butt.

 

[galanie]

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